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Posts tagged with: Benazir
Dec 28, 2007    |      1 comment

A tragedy of Military Despotism and Anarcy

by Tariq Ali
Published in The Guardian Unlimited, its worth reading as it shares some genuine issues about Pakistan

Even those of us sharply critical of Benazir Bhutto’s behaviour and policies – both while she was in office and more recently – are stunned and angered by her death. Indignation and fear stalk the country once again.

An odd coexistence of military despotism and anarchy created the conditions leading to her assassination in Rawalpindi yesterday. In the past, military rule was designed to preserve order – and did so for a few years. No longer. Today it creates disorder and promotes lawlessness. How else can one explain the sacking of the chief justice and eight other judges of the country’s supreme court for attempting to hold the government’s intelligence agencies and the police accountable to courts of law? Their replacements lack the backbone to do anything, let alone conduct a proper inquest into the misdeeds of the agencies to uncover the truth behind the carefully organised killing of a major political leader.
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Dec 28, 2007    |       2 comments

PPP contemplating on Contesting the Elections

Its been buzzing around the country that PPP might actually proceed to contest the elections on Jan 8th. A very high level meeting of the PPP is scheduled to be held today where this issue will be hotly debated after they come to a decsion of who will be the new party chairperson, in the wake of the assassination of the Life Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. The candidates is the running are Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who in all probability will come out as the new leader, but it is rumored that Asif Ali Zardari might also be in contention (!!). The logic of PPP leadership for fighting the elections is simple, they want to harness the wave of sympathy that has spread throughout the country and feel it might actually land them a land slide victory into the parliament.

One must not forget that these elections are only meant to legitimize the rule of Pervaiz Musharraf who has used the terrorism issue to his own advantage since long, the elections are already a farce b any standard being organized by an illegal President with a self-appointed election commissioner and a lapdog judiciary toeing his every command. Unless these elections can be fully free and fair held under an independent judicial body it can be simply considered as a monkey circus to appease the powerful – I would strongly urge parties to boycott them.

The funny part in this boycott no boycott frenzy is that Nawaz Sharif yesterday was emotionally drawn into sympatising with the PPP workers and quickly decided to announce his parties boycott from the scam elections – which this blogger fully hailed as a great move, little did Nawaz Sharif know that the very next day PPP would pull a fast one on him and swing around to actually fight the elections. Leaving him hanging in a catch-22 situation all over again. The question remains to be seen if Ganja might actually think about reversing his decision and play second fiddle to the decisions coming out of PPP or will he have the balls to fight against this illegitimate election scam. We must remember that with BB’s death it may only charge up the atmosphere leading up to the elections but everything else pertaining to the elections remain the same – and pre-poll rigging remains in full swing.

Dec 28, 2007    |       2 comments

What choices do we have?

Guest Blog by Naeem Sadiq
posted on the People’s Resistance Network

One hopes that we have finally realised on a day as sad as this one, that the violence of the state and of fundamentalists can only take us to darker destinations. Never before have I witnessed such intense pain and sorrow, shared so much across the entire country as I saw on the evening of that fateful Thursday, when Benazir bade her final farewell. Moments of trial for a nation whose helpless citizens in a state of grief and distress feel utterly confused, uncertain and anxious about what might happen next.

Pakistan today stands at crossroads where it must choose between a civilised, peaceful, progressive and democratic path or disintegrate under an illegitimate , one person dictatorial rule. The choices are limited and the time is short. There may be one last opportunity to make amends and change the course of events. Perhaps a set of demands such as the ones listed below may help to unify the shattered people and provide a new roadmap for the future.
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Dec 28, 2007    |      1 comment

Condoleezza Rice calls Zardari to request for Elections on 8th !!!

It was just reported on ARY One World that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had called up Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of Benazir Bhutto requesting him permission to let the January 8th elections to go on as planned.

I am not sure whats the agenda in all this but I suspect some serious foul play afoot to which the American bureaucracy is a full part of all this.

I personally have never believed in Benazir and my blog is brimming full of my stand against her, but at this sensitive time I too feel grief stricken to have lost a great leader in Pakistan. I would have preferred to argue and debate, but never will I wish any opponent a horrific death like this, it is simply inhumane. But when such a tragedy happens its important to be considerate of human sensitivities and let the wounds heal. Holding the elections so close to her death will mean deliberately plunging the country into chaos. As I have been repeating over and over again I hope good wisdom prevails. I feel the player deeply involved in ensuring that the election must go on time are Musharraf, PML-Q and MQM.

I now urge all Pakistanis to step up their efforts to urge the world to stop these elections as I dread, this may contribute to total annihilation of Pakistan

Dec 28, 2007    |      1 comment

Elections still ON Jan 8 – Caretaker PM Soomro

Reported on Dawn News: Pakistan’s plan to hold a Jan. 8 general election still stands as announced by caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro , a day after opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. “Elections stand as they were announced, caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro told reporters when asked if a decision had been made on the timing of the parliamentary polls in light of Bhutto’s death.

I feel this is a catastrophe waiting to happen in such a charged atmosphere it can only aggravate the local situation even further – can someone knock some sense into these raving idiots

Dec 28, 2007    |      1 comment

Benazir Bhutto’s funeral to start at 2:30p.m.

The funeral and burial of slain Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto will be held in Garhi Khuda Baksh, Naudero after Friday prayers, at about 2:30p.m. Pakistan Standard Time. A senior party leader said, Bhutto, 54, is to be buried in the family’s ancestral graveyard in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh near the town of Larkana. Her grave is to be next to that of former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. around noon.

Earlier in the day – The body of slain Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto arrived in Naudero before dawn Friday for burial in the family’s graveyard, The plane landed in Sukkur from where the body and members of her family were flown by helicopter to Naudero, her spokesman Farhatullah Babar told AFP. Her husband Asif Zardari, their three children and some senior leaders of Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) traveled on the plane

A strong word of caution that during this time (after juma prayers) there can be expected an increase in local city situations around the country, everyone is strongly advised to stay at home and safe

Dec 28, 2007    |      1 comment

Nawaz Sharif pulls out of the Elections, while PML-Q, MQM & JUI – Silent

After the assassination of Benazir Bhutto the nation plunged into a confusing shock. Many loved this leader, while quite a few despised her since she was ruthlessly famous for her underhanded tricks which she used to manipulate her way around the political hurdles for the sake another chance on the throne of power. Its interesting to note that with the sudden death of a person how quickly has the love hate relationship changes to be more of sympathy for the departed soul.

Her arch rival Nawaz Sharif quickly rushed to the hospital in Rawalpindi to show his support and immediately announced his parties withdrawal from the elections. The bottom line, according to me, was that PML-N should have in the first place boycotted the elections but even then I am ready to give him credit to have taken the initiative and become the first few to turn up the heat on Musharraf who surprisingly being aware of the sensitivities of this tragic loss choose to come on live television, announced a a three day country wide morning but did not say a word about the elections.

What is really interesting, is to sit an observe a pin=drop hushed silence from MQM, PML-Q, and JUI – all prime pedigree lapdogs of Pervez Musharraf who dare not even sneeze without the expressive and written permission from the Retired President-General himself. Are all these too faithful to their masters, lets keep a careful watch on all these King’s parties aka election favorites and hope that wisdom prevails

Dec 28, 2007    |      1 comment

UN agrees on Condemnation despite Pakistans protest

Today soon after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto the United Nations quickly convened the Security Council for an emergency meeting to draft a strong resolution to condemn the attack on Benazir Bhutto – The UN condemned in the “strongest possible terms the terrorist suicide attack by extremists.” but it seems that the Government of Pakistan had reservations on the words ‘strongest possible terms’

I am surprised as to why the Pakistani mission to the United Nations might see a problem with the specifics of a word when in fact the entire nation is on a three day morning for the tragic loss of a Pakistani leader at the hands of a terrorist – read the narration by Richard Roth a CNN Correspondent to the United Nations

UN agrees on words of condemnation by Richard Roth, Senior UN Correspondent – [CNN.com blog]

The final week of the year is usually quiet at the United Nations. But my 14 years covering the place has seen several world crises which have prompted emergency meetings. Today it’s Pakistan. I always listen closely as the President of the Security Council for the month of December wishes reporters a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year around December 18. Then I tell the various ambassadors to be careful, don’t jinx the world. It doesn’t take long for tsunamis, Iraq crises, and nuclear showdowns to erupt.
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Dec 28, 2007    |       508 comments

Online Condolence Book for Benazir Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto

It is without doubt that an entire nation actually sheds a tear on the death of Benazir Bhutto, she was a hero to many, and rival to others, but the bottom line is that she was a brave leader of our nation and her struggles for democracy will not go unremembered. May Her Soul Rest in Peace.

In an attempt to provide the online community and opportunity to offer their condolences to the grieving family and literally thousands of Peoples Party supporters I would like to initiate this condolence book for Benazir Bhutto. I will make it my own responsibility to present the entire list to the offices of the Pakistan Peoples Party to be attached with the main condolence book. Please Pay your respects below

Dec 27, 2007    |       16 comments

Pakistan morns the Death of Benazir Bhutto

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a suicide attack today in Rawalpindi outside the Liaquatbagh rally she addressed moments earlier. In all honesty, I was never a fan of her style of politics corruption but on hearing this sad news it leaves me and the entire nation in shock, quite literally forgiving her for everything, May Her Soul Rest in Peace.

As the country plunges into chaos with news of riots already afoot throughout Pakistan. Yes we will recover, yes the world will move on, but we will surely remember her ultimate sacrifice for Pakistan.

My analysis of who is to blame may be quite simple as we have been repeating the same thing over and over again – The Americans MUST stop their adventures and infiltrations into other countries and their war on terror has destroyed Afghanistan, Iraq and now Pakistan stands on the edge ready to plummet into darkness. This war on terror is a war of the Americans and NOT our war.

We Pakistanis Plead with the movers and shakers in United States to Please For Gods Sake Leave US ALONE

Dec 27, 2007    |      1 comment

Update @ 1730: Bomb Blast at Benazir Bhutto’s rally in RawalPindi

BREAKING NEWS At least 20 persons were killed and scores others injured as a powerful blast occurred Thursday at an election campaign rally for Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto here at Rawalpindi, said a foreign news agency. ARY One World is at the moment saying that the bomb blast occurred after Benazir Bhutto left the rally. more updates to follow.

Earlier at around 1600 Dawn News reported of intense security around the area by this news report.

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Dec 23, 2007    |       13 comments

The NAB Diaries – Part Two

Guest Post by Amer Nazir

Part One of the ‘The NAB Diaries’ can be read here
Part Three of the ‘The NAB Diaries’ can be read here

Part One has already been published by Teeth Maestro last week and which was subsequent to a letter written by me to the Chairman NAB requesting for either his resignation or else for him to justify NABs actions by making the details of this case public. A continued silence from him can only confirm that integrity is not a requirement in Pakistan for the role of Chairman NAB. And that NAB does not have any right to hold accountability since it is corrupt itself…

The other objectives of these diaries are also straight forward. One only needs to read the local and International press to realize that the army is yet being made to seem as a better option. Corruption by the politicians is cited as the reason. The third and the most important consideration, the common man, is never brought into the equation. The debate remains between the army and the politicians almost as if the thought of such a comparison was appropriate… The issues most under discussion are nuclear weapons and terrorism, the common man still does not figure as much…

In a civilized society a single miscarriage of justice that concerns a common man is highlighted as much as the news of a celebrity. Prime Ministers are made accountable, systems are changed, it does not matter whether it is Labour which is in power or the conservatives, the fundamental principles of governance reign supreme.
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